Agenda item

To consider a report from the Orchard Close Task and Finish Working Group on all wider options regarding the future of the Orchard Close Respite Service.

The Chairman acknowledged with thanks all Members of the working group, voluntary sector partners, officers, deputees, and Lee Culhane from Healthwatch, who served as the independent chair. 

Members considered the Healthwatch Report (Appendix 1 to Annex A) and the Director of Adults’ Health and Care presented the findings from their report to the Executive Member for Adults Social Care and Health (Annex A) for her 3 December Decision Day.  The department thanked all users, parent carers, and the voluntary and independent sector for their collaboration and contribution to engagement.

Members heard:

• An overview of the Orchard Close Respite Centre services and building. 
• Savings needed from transformation programme led to the public consultation, and eventually to the working group for consideration of all possible wider options.
• The service will continue to run, and it is important to note there are no plans to close Orchard Close Respite Centre as part of Transformation to 2021.
• Unprecedented savings are required and this reduction proposal and income from other respite units are being considered to address the £617,000 savings deficit. 
• Many carers depend on the service and users appreciate the location and food.
• Due to current financial climate issues, savings must be considered but with equitable services and in keeping with the Care Act. 
• More affordable service is being explored due to lower occupancy and previous usage patterns.
• The next public consultation (with concurrent staff consultation) will start after the general election to consider views before proposed changes are implemented.
• Equality Impact Assessments for both have been completed and shared. 
• Full time equivalent staff would not be at risk with other Hampshire County Council employment available to them.
• The shortfall of £332,000 recurring per annum will be met from elsewhere in learning disability services and equitable to loss of other services. 
• Successive transformations will incur more financial pressures and challenges.
• While minor building improvements have been taken on (e.g. a new Wi-Fi network has already been installed), more major adaptions lie with the Charity. 
• The Council supports the “Friends of Orchard Close” group and the Leader has requested an advisory group regarding the Charity housing Orchard Close. 
• Partnership with all stakeholders have contributed to these recommendations. 

In response to questions, Members heard that bed capacity comparisons to counties similar to Hampshire are difficult as most do not provide and run in-house respite beds.

Members wished to thank all involved and commend the work of everyone involved.  They admired carers for their extraordinary effort to keep Orchard Close open, alongside their difficult day to day commitments and responsibilities.  Members noted their support of the recommendations and hoped that loss of beds would not lead to further consequences down the line.  Required savings are a significant and major challenge and under the circumstances, the outcome is positive to keep Orchard Close’s trusted, highly valued, and wonderful environment available for service users.

Members thanked the Task and Finish Group and agreed to Recommendations A and B (see below).  The Committee hoped the Executive Member would agree as well but noted that the financial consequences of a further third of a million savings would still be necessary.  

RESOLVED

That the Committee:

Recommendation A

That the Task and Finish Group recommend to the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee (HASC) that it endorses the following recommendations: That the Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health:

1. Acknowledges and thanks staff at Orchard Close, Healthwatch, Carers Together, Hampshire Advocacy and Orchard Close carers and service users for their contributions to the engagement process and to the Healthwatch engagement report (see attached).
2. Confirms there are no proposals relating to the closure of the respite service at Orchard Close within the Transformation to 2021 plans considered by Full Council on 7 November 2019 and that the County Council will continue to run a respite service at Orchard Close.
3. Gives permission to go out to consultation on the proposals contained in this report including the reduction in the number of respite beds offered at Orchard Close Respite Service from a total of 13 to 10 beds.
4. Notes that the proposals for other Hampshire County Council Learning Disabilities respite services to increase their income from other public bodies will be included in the consultation as set out in this report.
5. Notes that Officers will continue to support carers to explore further the possibility of a Friends of Orchard Close group.
6. Notes that an advisory group for the Orchard Close Charitable Trust will be formed following a request by the Leader of the County Council. Any proposals in relation to the Orchard Close Charitable Trust will be subject to agreement by the Executive Member of Policy and Resources.

Recommendation B

The Task and Finish Group have noted the significant financial implications on the Adults' Health and Care department budget as a result of continuing to run a respite service at Orchard Close and recommend that the HASC also note this impact – an estimated £332,000 deficit. This is a minimum level of financial deficit provided that proposals around bed reduction at Orchard Close and attracting income from other public bodies goes ahead following consultation.

The Chairman called for a 10-minute recess until 11:00am

Cllr Quantrill arrived at 10:55.